Around 65% of rural roadways in the Chattogram district have become dilapidated due to damage caused by the recent floods, inflicting distress upon the local people.
One such critical route – the Gatiadanga-Deodighi-Mirzakhil road – a vital part of the Chattogram Satkania Burichchar circular road, is now in a deplorable state. This 8.20-kilometer road has become nearly unusable due to recent flooding.
Another affected road is the 20-kilometre Vhomang hat-Monglarmokh road, connecting Chandanish and Rangunia upazilas. Around 15 kilometres of this road become impassable due to flooding.
According to the Local Government Engineering Department's (LGED) Chattogram office, a staggering 8,641 km of rural roads in Chattogram's 14 upazilas have been severely impacted by continuous heavy rains and floods. Among them, 362 km suffered severe damage, while 156 km were completely severed, incurring an estimated cost of Tk32.80 crore. In this context, Satkania upazila bore the highest brunt with 67 km of severely affected roads, followed by Hathazari (35 km), Lohagara (24 km), Patia (13 km), Banshkhali (59 km), Anwara (6 km), Rangunia (62 km), Chandanaish (8 km), Mirsarai (23 km), Sitakunda (13 km), Raojan (10 km), and Fatikchhari (1 km) of badly damaged roads. Additionally, damaged bridge culverts added to the destruction, with Lohagara dealing with 8 damaged structures, and Hathazari, Boalkhali, and Chandnaish facing 1 to 3 damaged culverts each.
Satkania Upazila Chairman Md Motaleb said that every road in the upazila had been affected. Around 14 roads in the area suffered severe damage due to the high floodwaters and strong currents.
Local residents are grappling with hardships in the aftermath of the floods. Some have taken it upon themselves to start road repairs. Unless swift and comprehensive repairs are undertaken, the potential for increased suffering remains high.
Suman Talukdar, senior assistant engineer at LGED Chattogram Office, highlighted the unprecedented nature of the destruction, attributing it to
landslides in various areas and prolonged inundation of rural roads for over 10 days.
A drone survey is underway to assess flood-induced road damage accurately.
Approximately 28,070 houses and 300 educational institutions have been affected by the recent flood in Chattogram District. The Disaster and Relief Wing of Chattogram District Administration reports that of these houses, 18,885 were partially damaged and 9,185 were completely destroyed.
